Mandrel changing and cooling machine



May 21, 1929.

A. G. MCHUGH MANDREL CHANGING, AND COOLING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan ll, 1928 w) T/vEss TTofr/vars K May 21,1929. G1/HUGH 1,714,131

MANDREL CHANGING AND COOLING MACHINE me@ Jan. 11, 192e 3 sheets-sheet 2 w/TNESS By Il,

I HTTOHNEYJ May 21, 1929. A. G. MCHUGH MANDREL CHANGING AND COOLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 11, 1928 5 Smets-sheet w/T/vEsS f 'Patented May 21, 1929.,

UNITED lSTA Y AUSTIN G. MCHUGH, 0F YouNe'sToWN, oHIo.

MANDREL CHANGING AND COOLING MAQHlNE.

application med January 11, 192s.- servial No. '$245,358.y i

lA process for thel manufacture of pipes and tubes has recently been developedvvhich comprises essentially the rapid intermittent forging of the leading endof a pierced, heat-v ed,.longitudinally reciprocating ingot, supported on a mandrel,by means o f a pair of peculiarly grooved rolls rotating in opposite directions and in a direction opposed to the foi-Ward movement of the ingot, With the result that each time the ingot is presented to that portion of the rolls grooved to form a pass of predetermined diameter correspond- Aing to the exterior diameter of the tuber it `is desired to produce, a portion of the ingot is reduced in size and brought thereto; thus the tube is progressively formed and gradui ally projected beyond the rolls until the Whole of the metal in theingot has passed between them. This process is commercially known as the Pilger process and 'the-tube mill designed for operation in accordance therewith as a Pilger mill. VIn carrying out the process, a cold cylindrical mandrel having an exterior diameter corresponding to the interior diameter of the pipe or tube which is to be formed is inserted in the pierced heated ingot after the latter is brought to the mill from the heating furnace and is retained in the ingot as the latter Vis gradually and progressively formed into the pipe or tube, after which the mandrel is stripped therefrom by suitable mechanism. During the period While the man! drel is in the ingot it becomes highly heated both from its physical'c'ontact therewith and also from the heat generated by the forging` ofthe ingot in its progress through the rolls of the mill; in consequence, after each pipe or tube has been formed and the mandrelk has been stripped therefrom, the latter has to be removed from thel mill and a fresh cold mandrel supplied for insertion in the succeeding ingot. i

Itis therefore a principal object kof the present invention to provide means for removing the heated mandrel from the mill andY forl supplying another' cooled mandrel thereto for insertion in the next ingot.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means for effectively cooling the hot mandrel after removal from the mill so as to enable it to be used again after a proper interval, and more particularly` to provide means for effecting this cooling slowly by exposing the mandrel tothe air,

thereby avoiding any distortion of the mandrel in shape, diameter or length, as well as the setting up of excessive internal strains in the mandrel'which frequently results frein too rapid cooling; in consequence, by the use of the present inventionthe useful life of the mandrels is prolonged. Y i

'A still further object of the invention is to provide a machineV adapted for consecutively removing the heated inandrels from the mill` andy comprising a suitableconveyor mechanism for receiving the inandrelsy so removed and adapted to move them in a predeter-v mined path of ysufficient length to enable them to be slowly and adequately cooled by exposure to the air and to then consecutively feed. the cooled mandrels back to the mill the said machine being designed to effect these several functions substantially automaticall and Withoutthe employment oflabor additional to that normally required to operate the feeding' device of thePilger mill With` whichY they said machine is operatively asso'- ciated.

The invention yfurther contemplates the provision of 'a machine of the character` aforesaid which is of rugged yet'relatively simple construction and therefore not liable to get out of order or become 'damaged under the conditions of operation to which it must necessarily be subjected including the severe duty imposed upon it in `the handling of the relatively heavy mandrels.`

. The invention further includes, other objects and novel features of design, construction and arrangement hereinafter more particularly mentioned or Which Will be apparent from the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof` and in which I have illus- 'i trate'd a machine constructed in accordance with a. preferred embodiment ofthe invention in ,association With a portion of a Pilger mill of Well known design.

Considered" in its broader aspects my man-y the mandrel to be thoroughly cooled byV ex-k posure to the aii before it reaches the end thereof at which point it is4 transferred to lifting levers arranged and operated in such a way as to raise the mandrel up another inclined plane adj acont the upper end of which the mandrel passes onto movable members along which it rolls by gravity to ultimately return to thelifting table of the mill for insertion in a fresh ingot. While for convenience l have just referred to the course of a single mandrel in its passage from the lifting table through the mandrel changing and cooling machine and bach to the table, it will of course be understood that in practice a plurality of mandrels are employed and successively follow the same course, so that immediately following` the discharge of a hot mandrel from the lifting table a' eoolmandrel will be moved into position thereon, this latter mandrel having in turn been discharge from thetable sometime previously, the interval between the discharge of each mandrel from the lifting table and its return thereto being thus measured by the time required for the mandrel to pass through the changing and cooling machine. Consequently, by using a suitable number of mandrels and operating the machine synchronously with the rate at which the heated ingots are brought to the mill, it is possible to discharge a het mandrel freni the mill after cach ingot has been forged thereby into a pipe or tubeand to bring a fresh cooled mandrel into position in the mill for insertion in the following ingot without loss ofv time and substantially automatically. Having in mind this brief reference to the general construction and operation of the invention more detailed reference may now be made to the particular embodiment thereof which l have chosen to illustrate in the accompanying drawings. j

In the said drawings, Fig. l is an end elevation of the mandrel changing and cooling machine in association with certain `parts of the Pilger mill proper which are shown in end elevationand also in transverse section; Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof but on a smaller scale; Fig. 3v is a fragmentary section substantially on line 3-3 in Fig. 2 but on a larger scale; Fig. Ll is a similar view but showing certain of the parts in a differentposition; Fig.

5 is a further fragmentary substantially similar view showing certain of the parts in still another position, and Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail section on line 6-6 in Fig.

2 but on the saine scale as the preceding three figures. llie same symbols are used to designate the same parts in the several figures.

As will hereinafter appear the operation of the machine is preferably effected by two separate j electric motors respectively controlled by suitable switches by means of which the motors are started, stopped and reversed as required in theproper operation of the machine. As these switches may be of any vas well as between the latter and the power line has been entirely omitted; it will thus be understood that any suitable motors, switches and connections therebetween may be cmployed.

Referring now to the drawings, the Pilger mill proper comprises a pair of laterally spaced longitudinally extending horizontal ways W upon which travels the feeding and reciprocating device (not shown) by means of which the heated iiigot, supported on a suitable mandrel attached to the device, is fed toward and also reciprocated with respect to the rolls; between the ways is disposed a lifting table 2 arranged to be raised and lowered by any suitable and ordinarily hydraulically actuated means. A function of this table is to support the mandrel prior to its connection to and after its detachment from the feeding means and to this end the upper face of the table may be provided with a shallow V- shaped longitudinally extending depression 3. lt will be understood that the means for raising and lowering the table are capable of accurate control by the operator so the table can be brought to any desired elevation within its range of movement and retained there for as long as may be desired.

A The table may be provided adjacent each end with a transversely extending-slot 5 in which is disposed a lifting arm 6; these arms are respectively secured to a longitudinally extending shaft 7 rotatably journaled in the table adjacent that edge thereof which is nearest the mandrel changing and cooling machine, the shaft of course being arranged ies below the surface of the table so as not to interfere with the movements of the mandrels thereacross as hereinafter described. The

Varnis 6, 6 are of such shape and size as to exin such position that when the lift table 2 is raised to a predetermined point the dog 8 will engage the dog 9 so that further upward movement of the table is thereafter effective to rotate shaft 7 iii a clockwise direction to raise the arms 6 from their housed position within the slots 5 with the kresult that a mandrel M lying on the table will be rolled ofll the tablev more or less in alignment with the lift table l as the lift table is ordinarily somewhat .q shorter than the mandrels the carrierlstands,

three of which may conveniently be employed,

are preferably so spaced and arranged thaty the distance between the outer .faces of thev end stands will be somewhat` greaterthan the length of the table so that full and adequate support will be afforded to the mandrels. The rear edge or face 14 of each stand is inclined upwardly and forwardly at a relatively sharp angle,that is, in the direction of themill, from the base of the standV so as to provide an inclined plane along which the mandrels are moved when returning to the mill as hereinafter described, while the upper extremity `of each stand isr directed more or less horizontally forwardly to terminate short of the lifting table; adjacent the end of this substantially horizontally overhanging portion each stand` is formed to provide ka journal for the rotatable kickerk shaft 10 which extends parallel to the ways. f

Disposed at a suitable distance behind the carrier stands is the conveyor mechanism, the structural frame of whichcomprises a pair of spaced girdcr pedestals 16, 17 at :one end and a similar pair of pedestals 16', 17 at the other end, the pairs of pedestals being respectively spaced 'apart longitudinally for a distance greater than the length of the longest mandrel which the machine is designed to accommodate; extending between these pairs of pedestals and supported and secured thereon are longitudinally extending girders 18,

19, 2Ol preferably in the form of I-beams which serve to tie the pedestals firmly together and also to support a plurality of members 22 which I term separators and which'are disposed at longitudinally spaced intervals, as well as a plurality of upper skid rails 24 preferablycorresponding in number to the separators and arranged in alignment therewith. The separators 22 are arranged in vertical planes and extend between the girders 18 and 19 while the upper skid railsy 24 extend between the girders 19 and 20.

AEach of the separators preferably comprises a vertically extending web suitably ianged at its extremities for attachment to the girders and having a horizontal flange alongits upper edge formed to provide a depression 25 adjacent the forward end of the separator of such configuration as to readily, receivev and temporarily retain a mandrel when rolled l thereinto. In addition to theseparators 22 to which I have just referred, Ialso-provide two pair of separators 22 having depressions 25 similar to the separators 22; these pairs of Vseparators 22, however,`are respectively I arranged in substantiall alignment with the outer carrier stands 13 and formfsupports for short shafts 26 on which are journaled idler sprockets 27. Corresponding sprockets 28 are mountedV behind the girder 20 on.V a sprocket drive shaft 29 suitably journaled in brackets 30 carried b ythe girder 20 anda substantially similar firacket secured to the pedestal 17. Between the respective pairs.

of sprockets are extendedl conveyor chains32 to each of which aresecured a pluralityof soi dogs 33 spaced at such intervals as to receive Vthe Vmandrels between them as best shown in Fig.: 1. The shaft 29 is extended beyond the pedestal17 and connected through a cou-` pling34 and suitable reduction'gear, 35 with 'a driving motor 36 provided with a` brake 37 of any well known construction.v

It will thus be apparent that the separa-V n tors 22, 22 and skid rails 24 together provide a surface along which the mandrels between the dogs on the upper runs of the chains willbe carried along' as the chains are moved by rotation of shaft 29 and it will be observed that this shaft as well as the shafts 26 on which the sprockets 27 are mounted is soy located that the upper runs of the kchains are slightlybelow thelevel of the said surface so that the weight of the mandrels is borne on the latter and not upon the chains; preferably the rear ends of the separator flanges and the skid rails are slightly upwardly inclined from front to rear with conseqnent location of shaft 29 a little above the plane of shafts 26.

As the mandrels are consecutively carried around the sprocket 28 they are received y upon and supported by guides 40, 40 posit-ioned in alignment with the chains and provided with curved-faces 41 along which the mandrels maytravel andfrom which they pass to the lower skid yrails 42 which extend at an angle of inclination corresponding to that of the upper skid rails 24 to terminate adjacent the rear ends of the skid stands 44.

44 arranged adjacent the forward end of the conveyor mechanism. j `The lower skid rails 42 are supported on suitablydisposed girders 45, five of these rails being preferably employed. The skid stands which may be cast as integral units are provided lwith flanges 46 at their upper edges which are upwardly and forwardly curved from the adjacent ends of the lower skid rails so as to check the forward movement of the mandrels and-also to some extent relieve the torsional strain set up in shaft 29 by the mandrels as they pass over the rear sprockets in their descent from the upper to the lower skid rails; theV forwardupward curvature of the flanges d6 of the skid stands also necessitates the positive lifting*ofeachrmandrel from alower to a higher plane before it can pass over the forward end of the flange to the forwardly and downwardly inclined delivery lip or surface 47 formed by the upper edge of hracket 48 with which each stand is provided and which conveniently substantially` aligns 'with the carrier arms 50, 50 hereinafter more particularly described. and which are supported on the carrier arm shaft 5l suitably journaled for rotation in brackets 59, disposed on thev carrier stands and preferably integral therewith.

From the foregoing description of the conveyor mechanism will he apparent that as the mandrels are consecutively delivered, as 'hereinafter described, to the aligned depressions Q5 in the separators 2Q they will remaintherein until moved rearwardly along the upper edges of the separators and thereafter along the skid rails by the dogs of the sconveyor chains vand that as the surface ou which the inandrels travel is elevated ahove the chains the mandrels will readily rol'l therealong under the influence of the dogs with resulting economization in power. is fthe mandi-els consecutively pass over the rear sprockets 28 they are supported hy the d s until the latter reach a substantially here zontal position when the weight of the mandrels is taken bythe guides el() and flO"v and the mandrels from thence pass to the lower skid rails 412 along which they roll by gravity assisted by the dogs until they reach the skid stands, the upward curvature of which ellec tually slows up their advance until they are `positively raised over the highest points of the skid stands by the operation of the dogs and thus pass to the downwardly inclined delivery lips el and from thence to the carrier arms which operate to raise them to a position to pass to the lifting table of the Pilger mill as hereinafter described.

As the point at which the mand rcls are delivered from the mill is considerably in advance of the forward ends of the separators Q2, 22 `means are provided along wl'lich the mandrels may roll in their passage to the latter, said means comprising a plurality of vertically movable arms fr, resi'iectively hinged at their rear ends in urac ried by the girder 18, the forward ends of the arms being adapted to rest in depre. i

ions 57 Vformed in the carrier stands with which the arms are respectively aligned.Y when the arms arein lowered position as in Figs. l and 3 a adually inclined plane or surface is provided extendingl from the forward ends of the carrier to apoint adjacent the girder 18 alongV which the nuindrels are free to roll, while as the upper face the upper flange of gil-der 18 is substantially horizontally aligned with the upper surface of the separators, said flange fills up the gap between the ends of arms and the separ tors which would otherwise exist. As the momentum acquired by the mandrel as it rolls along the inclined plane formed by arms 55 is considerable, it is desirable to provide means for checking the speed of the mandrel or even for stopping it when it reaches a point adjacent the rear ends of the arms and for this purpose the brackets 56 may be slightly extended above the plane of the upper faces of the ari s so as to lie in the path of the mandrel and thus form fired stops 58 for check` ing or totally arresting its movement.

ltr-ference has hitherto been made to the carrier arms 50, 50 which are mounted on the carrier arm shaft 5l to turn therewith; these arms have two functions, namely, that of raising the cooled mandrel after it passes from the skid stands to a position to be received by the kicker arms hereinafter described and that of raising the kicker arms after the mandrel has been received upon them so as to provide an inclined plane down which the mandrel may roll in its return to the Y lifting table ofthe mill. Vhen these arms are in lowered position as in Figs. l and 3 their free ends are substantially aligned with the del ivory lips l? of the skid stands so that after the mandrel'is delivered thereupon by the action of the' chain conveyor it can roll down the carrier arms, whose upper or forward faces then in c'llect form a prolongation. of the lips 47, until it contacts with Vthe forwardly and upwardly inclined edges la of the carrier stanc Jlifter the mandrel attains this position rotation of the carrier arm shaft 5l in a connterclockwise dir VJction is operative to swing the carrier arms upwardly and forwardly, thus rolling the mandrel up the inclined plane formed by the carrier stands and bringing it into contact, as it nears the upper ends thereof, with flanges or ribs G0 formed on the under sides of the several arms 55 with the result that the latter are lifted and rotated :in a clockwise direction about their pivots, thus rolling the hot mandrel which isthen resting thereon Fig. 3) rearwardly over the stops 58 and into the depressions 25 in the separators where it is in a position to be picked up by the approaching conveyor doo.

rlhe lifting of the arms 55 and resulting lll) movement of the hot mandrel as just dey wardly from the shaft and a much smaller table of the mill. Normally the rearwardly extending'parts of the kicker armsI are supported onstops 64 mounted onk the carrier stands and these stops are so located and thel kicker arms so formed that the upper edges of the latter will substantially align with and conform to the adjacent surfaces 14 of the carrier stands so that as the cold mandrel is rolled up the latter by the carrier arms the kicker arms will not interfere with its movement. The under surface or edge of the rear end of each of the kicker arms is preferably slightlyk convexed to provide a cam-like 'surface 65 adapted to be engaged by the subjacent carrier arm when the latter approaches the end ofits upward or forward movement in such manner as to raise the kicker arm; to facilitate this action the free end of each carrier arm, which is preferably substantially T-shape in cross section so as to provide a relatively broad face for contact with the mandrel, may be cut away at one side in alignment with the superjacent kicker arm for a suitable distance so as to provide a shoulder 66 adapted to cooperate with the cam surface 65 of theki'cker arm yso as .to raise'the'latter from its normal position as the carrier arm approaches the end of its movement and thus swing the kicker arm to substantially the position shown in Fig. 5. As the cold mandrel prior to this lifting movement of the kicker arms has reached a position above the latter, the mandrel is thus raised from the carrier stands by the operationof the kicker arms and then rolls down the inclined upper edges of the latter onto the lifting table 2 of thev n mill which, subsequently tothe ejection of the hot mandrel therefrom, has been lowered by the operator to a position to properly re ceive the cold mandrel as it rolls thereonto from the kicker arms in the manner just dein the performance of the various .operations which the mandrel changing and 'cooling machine is intended to effect, it is necessary to oscillate the carrier arm shaft 51 so as to raise and lower the carrier arms and ralso to rotate shaft 29 so as to actuate t-he chain conveyor, thislatter function being performed by the driving motor 36 as hitherto described. The

. requisite movement of the shaft 51 is preferably effected from the carrier arm shaft motor which is provided with a suitable brake-71 and is connected through a reduction gear 72 and pinion73 witha toothed segment 74 mounted on shaft 51; as this shaft never makes a complete revolution but only oscillates through an angle of about 90 the toothed segment 74 may be conveniently employed instead of ak full gear. l The requisite starting` and stopping of. motors 36 and 70 and'reversing of the latter maybe accomplished if desired by manual operation of suitably arranged switches but for the pure Y pose of insuring proper synchronization of the movements of the -various parts oftheV machine, avoiding liability of injury thereto or breakage thereof through inattention of the operator and effecting its operation substantially automatically, I prefer to utilize suitableswitches ofv well known formv for aclcoinplishing certain intended functions, arranged and operating in substantiallyv the manner now to be described. Y, i

To this end, therefore, I preferably mount a switch S on the beam 18 andarrange a trip lever S', operative to V.control the.switch,.in such position that it will be depressed lby the het mandrelsubstantially as the latter reaches the stops 58. This switch is so connected that on-depression of the lever S', the carrier arm shaft motor 70 will be set in operation in a direction'proper to raise thecarrier arms from lowered position (Fig. 3) with the result that the coldr mandrel which has theretofore been delivered to the carrier arms by the conveyor will be started in its upward movement along the carrier stands. The lcontrol circuit in which the switch S is inter'` posed is carried through a limit switch LS positioned adjacent shaft 51 and so constructed that when. said shaft has rotated suiiiciently to bring the carrier arms to their uppermost position, it will automatically interruptfthe circuit to the motor 70; as soon as the current-is thuscut off the motor, brake 71 functions to stop the latter and hold the carrier arms in raised position. A push button or switchtnot shown) is arranged near the operator to enable him to reverse motor 70 as soon as the cool mandrel has kbeen delivered to the,v lifting table of the mill so as to effect the return of the carrier arms to lower or normal position,upon the attainmentof which limit switch LS again operates to cut off the current from the motor which is then broughty tofrest by the brake. If desired, an

additional eXtreme limit switch ELS maybe arrangedY for actuation by suitable stops X, X on'shaft 51 upon the attainment of the maximum desired movement of the shaft in shaft .51 rotate through a greater angle in either direction than it is normally intended to do. n j I I "also mount a conveyor .starting switch vCS adjacent shaft 51 in such position it will be actuated by an arm CS" mounted on said shaft when the latter nearly reaches the completion ofits return or clockwisey movement and the carrier arms have consequently almost attained their normal position. This switch when so actuated` is effective to'start the motor 36 thereby rotatingl shaft 29 and moving` the chain conveyors, but as it is de sirable that each movement of the latter be only suflicient to remove the hot4 mandrel from the depressions 25 in the separators and to deliver a cool mandrel from the skid stands to the carrier arms I havel also disposed a conveyor limit switch CLS in any suitable position, conveniently adjacent -thc girder 20, and connect it with shaft 29 by a chain and sprocket connection or other suitable means, generally designated 77, in such manner that the current will be cut ott' from motor 36 and the latter stopped by brake 37 after the conveyor chains have moved for the requisite distance to effect these results. If will thus be apparent that the movement of the chains is an intermittent one and occurs in predetermined timed relation with the movements of the carrier arms so that the latter are always in a position to ieceive the cold mandrel when it is released from the skid stands by the action of th, conveyor.

llllhile it is believed the operation of the mandrel changing and cooling machine will be readily apparent from the foregoing description, brief reference thereto may nevertheless be properly made as follows: In Fig. l a hot mandrel HM is just about to pass from the lifting arms of the table 2 of the Pilger mill to the inclined plane formed by the tops of the carrier stands andthe lifting arms 55, while a cold mandrel GM has been delivered from the skid stands to the carrier arms and is about to be raised along the inclined edges lll of the carrier stands on its way to the lifting table. Other mandrels are also shown in said ligure between the dogs of the conveyor mechanism and it will of course be apparent that of these the mandrel M which is nearest to the mill on the upper run of the conveyor is the hottest as it has been released from the mill for the shortest time while the mandrel M resting at the forwardA end of the skid stands is the coolest, having been released from the mill for the greatestv length of time. Following now the movements of the hot and cold mandrels HM and GM it will be noted in Fig. 3 that the former next passes by gravity to a point at which its progress is arrested or entirely stopped by the stops 58 on bracket 56 just before or coincident with its attainment of that position this mandrel dcpresses starting lever S of switch S, thus setting in motion shaft 51 in a direction to swing the carrier arms upwardly so as to raise cool mandrel CM. As explained, this mandrel is effective in its passage along the carrier stands to lift the arms 55 so as to roll the hot mandrel into the depression 25 thereby releasing switch lever S which swings back into normal position. After the cool mandrel CM passes to a point above the kicker arms 62, the carrier arms become effective to raise the kicker arms and thereby discharge the cooled mandrel onto the lifting able of the mill which has hitherto `been lowered by the operator sufficiently to conveniently receive the mandrel. litleanwhile, as soon as the carrier arms have attained the limit of their upward movement, .limit switch LS becomes effective to cut out motor 70, thereby arrestingI further 'upward movement of the arms.V The operator now reverses motor 7() so to return the arms to normal position and just before they reach the latter the contact GSon shaft 5l actuates the conveyor switch CS, thereby setting motor 36 into operation so as to remove theV hot mandrel HM from the separators and also deliver the next cooled mandrel ld from the skid stands to the lifting arms, thus completing the cycle of operation. Of course as soon as the thrust of the carrier arms is removed from the kicker arms the .latter return by gravity to normal position. on stops 6a so as to be out of the way of the path of the next hot mandrel as it is discharged from the mill.

lhile I have herein described and illustrated with considerable particularity one form of my invention which I have found satisfactory under practical conditions of operation, I do not thereby desire or intend to in any way limit myself to any specific 'details of design, constr ction and arrangement of the various parts as the same are capable of material modification in numerous particulars fromthe precise embodiments to which I have referred, nor do I desire or intend to confine the use of the invention to the changing and cooling of mandrels employed in Pilger or like pipe and tube mills in accordance with the present practice as my invention is capable of other industrial uses if desired without departing from the spirit and" scope of the invention as defined bv the appended claims. Y Y

Having thus described my invention, I claim and' desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States:

l. A machine of the class described comprising means for receiving a mandrel, conveying means adapted to move the mandrel along a predetermined path, means adapted to transfer the mandrel from the receiving' to the conveying means, and means operative to receive the mandrel after its traverse of said path and thereafter move it to a point adjacent the receiving means.

2. A machine of the class described comprising means for receiving a mandrel, means adapted to form an. inclined plane along which the `mandrel may roll from saidV receiving means, conveying means adapted to move the mandrel along` `a predetermined path extending in spaced planes and means adapted to receive the mandrel after its traverse of said path and operative to move the portion-of the path lying in the uppermost of said planes.

5. A machine as speciiied in claim 2 in which the means adapted to receive the inandrel after its traverse of said path comprise a vertically movable carrier arm. a

6. A machine of the classdescribed comprising means adapted to receive a-inandrel, verticallyA movable means extending` from said receiving means and adapted when inv lowered position to form an inclined plane on which the mandrel may roll away7 from said receiving means, a conveyor adapted to pick up the mandrel after itspassage along said plane and move it along a predetermined path extending in vertically spaced planes to a point of discharge disposed at aiy lower level than the point at which the man- .p

drel is .received by the machine, a vertically movable arm adapted to receive the mandrel adjacent said point of discharge and-means forn'iing` an inclined plane extending sub` stantially to the point where the mandrel wasfii-st received by the machine and cooperative `with said arm when moved about its axis to raise the mandrel substantially there-l to.

machine as specified in claim 6 comprising a stop adapted to check the movement of the mandrel along said vertically mov-` able means and prior to its engagement by the conveying means.'

8. A machine as specified in claim 6 comprising means adapted to effect the operation of the conveying means with a step-by-'step vmotion whereby the mandrel is moved along said path intermittently. l

9. A machine as specified in claim G in which the vertically movable means are airangel for engagement by ya preceding inandrel as it is raised by sai-d vertically movable arm to therebv discharge a succeeding mandrel resting on said vertically movable means to a position where it may be engaged by the conveying means.

10. In combination with a vertically movable table adapted tosupport a' inandrei and comprising means adapted to discharge the mandrel therefrom, a machine adapted toreccive the discharged mandrel, convey it along ai-predetermined :path and return it to said table, said machine comprising members forming an inclined plane along which the mandrel may roll, an endless conveyor having a plurality of dogs spaced at inter-y vals therealong and operative to convey the mandrel from a point adjacent said meinbers along a; predetermined path flying in verticallyvspaced planes, and means adapted to receive the mandrel after its traverse of said path andv to then return it to a point adjacent that at which it was received from said table.

11. In combination with a vertically movable table adapted to supporta mandrel and comprising means adapted to discharge the mandrel therefrom, a machine adapted to receive the discharged mandrel, conveyit along a predetermined path and return it to said table, said machine comprising vertically movable members forming an inclined plane along which the mandrel may roll after 'its discharge from the table, means'for checking` the movement of the ymandrel along said inembers, a plurality of rails disposed in vertically spaced planes, an endless conveyor having a plurality of spaced dogs and operative to nieve the mandrel along said rails, a plurali- Y lty of movable arms adapted to receive the mandrel after its traverse of the rails and i means forming an upwardly inclinedplane on which the mandrel can moveunder the influence of said arms, said vertically movable Y members being adapted to be raised by the mandrel in its passage along said inclined plane last mentioned to thereby cause another mandrel subsequently discharged from the.

table and resting on said members to pass over the checking means to a position to be engagedl lby a dog of the conveyor.

12. In combina-tion' with a vertically mov-V able table adapted to support a mandrel and comprising means adapted to dischargethc mandrel therefrom, a machine adapted toreceive the discharged mandrel, convey it alongA a predetermined path and return 'it to said table, said machine comprising vertically movable members forming an inclined plane along` which the mandrel may roll after its discharge from the table, a plurality of rails disposed in vertically spaced planes, an end! less conveyor having a plurality of Vspaced dogs and operative to move the mandrel alongv the rails, a plurality of movable arms adapted to receive the mandrel `after its traverse of the rails, means forming an upwardly inclined plane on which the mandrel can move'under the influence of said arms and movable kicker arms disposed adjacent the upper end of said last mentionedmeans adapted to be raised by movable arms to form an inclined plane down which the mandrel can roll in the direction of the table.y

` 13. In combination with a vertically movable table adapted to support amandrel and f comprising a shaft and arms mounted thereon adapted when raised to discharge the mandrel `trom the table, a machine adapted to receive the discharged mandrel and then con .ey it along a predetermined path and return it to the table, said machine comprising means to actuating said shalt when the table is raised to a predetermined positionso as to eflect the discharge of the mandrel therefrom, vertically movable members 'forming an inclined plane along which the discharged mandrelcanmovmstop members interposed in the path oli the mandrel, conveying means oper ative to move the mandrel away from the table along a predetermined path and to then move it toward the table in a lower plane and means including vertically movable carrier arms adapted to receive the mandrel Jfrom the conveying meansand to raise it to a point ad Ijacent that at which it entered the machine, the mandrel being operative while being so raised to litt the movable arms and thereby cause a succeeding mandrel resting thereon to pass over aid stop members to a 'position to be engaged by said conveying means.

14. In combination with a vertically movable table adapted to support a mandrel and comprising a shaft and arms mounted thereon adapted when raised to discharge the man drel from the table, a machine adapted to re ceive the discharged mandrel and then convey it along a predetermined path and return it to the table, said machine comprising means tor actuating said shaft when the table is raiscd'to a predetermined position so to etllect the discharge of the mandrel therefrom, vertically movable members forming an inclined plane along which the discharged mandrel i can more, stop mem eers interposed in the path of the mandrel, conveying means operative to move the -mandrel away from the table along a predetermined path and to then move it toward the table in a lower plane, means including vertically movable carrier arms adapted to re ceive the mandrel from the conveying means and to raise it to a point adjacent that at which it entered the machine, and lricler arms adapted to form an inclined plane along which the mandrel may roll in the direction ot the tablel alter the mandrel has been raised to a point above said arms.

15. In combination with a vertically movable table adapted to support a mandrel and comprising means operable to discharge the mandrel therelroim a machine adapted to receive the mandrels as they are consecutively discharged from the table to convey i them along a predetermined path and return them to the table, said machine comprising con veying mechanism operative to move the mandrels along said path7 means for transferring the mandrels to the conveying mechanism Valter they are discharged from the table, and means adapted to consecutively receive the mandrcls 'from the conveying meehanism after they have traversed said path and return them to the table.

16. ln combination with a vertically movable table adapted to support a mandrel and comprising means operable to discharge vthe mandrel theretrom, a machine adapted to receive the mandrels as they are consecutive ly discharged 'from the table, to convey them alonO1 a predetermined path and return them to the table, said machine comprising conveying mechanism operative to move the mandrels along the path, means jlior transferring the mandrelsto the conveyor mechanism after they are discharged 'from the table, means including vertically movable carrier arms adapted to receive the mandrels consecutively from the conveying mechanism after they have traversed said path and to return them to the table, and means for et- 'fecting a step-b'y-step movement of the conveying mechanism in timed relation with the movements o'l the carrier arms.

17. ln combination with vertically movable tahle adapted to support a mandrel and comprising means operable to discharge the mandrel therefrom7 a machine adapted to receive the mandi-els as they are consecutively discharged from the table, to convey them along a prcdetern'iined path and return them to the table, said machine comprising an endless conveyor having a plurality oi" spaced dogs adapted to receive the mandrels between them, means for transferring the mandrels to the conveyor after they are discharged trom the table, means including` vcrtically movable carrier arms adapted to con sccutively receive the inandrels from the conveyor and to return them to the table, and means for operating` the conveyor in timed relation with the movements of the carrier arms whereby the conveyor will be uioved a predetermined distance Vcach time the carrier arms are returned to a predetermined position.

18. A machine adapted to receive heated mandrels as they are consecutively discharged from a tube mill, to convey them in a predetermined path to allow them to cool by exposure to the ai j and to consecutively return the cooled mandrels to thc mill? said machine comprising` means for receiving the mandrels,V an endless conveyor adapted to cause movement o't'the mandrels along said path initially in a direction away from the mill and subsequently in a direction toward the mill means for transferring the het. mandrels to the co veyor, means lier transterrin the cooled mandrels from the conveyor to the mill and including elements torniiing an inf clined plane and vertically movable carrier arms adapted to move the mandrels alon said plane, and means ilor actuating the conveyor in timed relation with the movements ol Ihe carrier arms whereby each time said arms are lll!) les lill

lli() ,are discharged from the mill toa point adjacent the conveyor,`means for returning the mandrels to the mill as they are consecutively discharged from the conveyor and including elements forming an inclined plane and vertically movable carrier arms operative tol move the cooled mandrels tlierealong, means for actuating the conveyor and the movable arms in timed relation whereby each time the arms are returned to lowered position the conveyor will be advanced one step tok thereby discharge a cooled mandrel onto'the carrierarms, said mandrel being thereafter operative in its passage along said inclined plane under the influence, of said arms to lift the movable members so as to discharge therefrom to the conveyor a hot mandrel which has just been received thereon from the mill. c Y' 20. A machine adapted tov receive heated mandrels as they are consecutivelyy discharged from a tube mill, to convey them in a predetermined path-to allow ,them to cool by exposure to the air and to then consecutively return them to Vthe mill, said machine comprising an endless conveyor adapted to move the mandrelsalon saidfpath,means including movable mem ersV for transferring the mandrels to the conveyor, means for returning the mandrels to the mill as they are consecutively discharged from the conveyor after traversing said path and including elements :forming an inclined plane,`vertically movable carrier armsoperative to move the cool mandrels therealong and kicker arms disposed in the paths of said carrier arms and adapted*` to be raised by the latter toward the extremity of their upward movement so as to posi- `tien the kicker arms to form an oppositely inclined plane down which the mandrel mayroll to return to the mill, and means for actuating the conveyor and the carrier arms in timed relation whereby each time the carrier arms are returned to lowered position the conveyor will be advanced sufiiciently to effeet the discharge of a cool mandrel onto the carrier arms.

21. A machine adapted to receive heated mandrels as they are consecutively discharged from a tube mill, to convey them in a predetermined path to allow them to cool by exposure to the air and Ito thenconsecutively `return them to the mill, said machine comprising an endless conveyor adapted tokmove the mandrelsv along said path, means includmandrels tothe conveyor, means for returning the mandrels to the mill as they are consecutively discharged from the conveyor after traversing said path and including elements forming an inclined plane, vertically movable carrier arms operative to move the cool mandrels therealong andkicker arms" disposed in the paths of said carrier arms and adapted to be raised bythe latter toward the v extremity of their upward movement'so as to position the kicker arms to form an oppositely inclined plane down which the mandrel may roll to return to the mill, and means for actuating the conveyor and thec'arrier arms in timed relation whereby each time the car- Arier arms are returned to lowered position the king vmovable members for transferring the v conveyor will be advanced suiiiciently to efe feet the discharge of a cool mandrel onto the carrier arms, said cooled mandrel in its subsequent passage along the inclined plane to- Y ward the kicker arms being operative to lift said movable members to discharge therefrom in the direction of the conveyor a hot mandrel which has ust been received thereon from the.

mill. v

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 31st day of December, 1927.

` AUSTIN G. MOHUGH. 

